Hazina Towers

Building in Nairobi, Kenya

Hazina Towers

General information
Status| Completed
Type| Commercial
Location| Moktar Daddah Street
Nairobi, Kenya
Coordinates| 1°16′57″S 36°48′56″E﻿ / ﻿1.282491°S 36.815562°E﻿ / -1.282491; 36.815562
Construction started| 1997; 28 years ago (1997)
Completed| December 31, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-12-31)[1]
Owner| NSSF Kenya
Technical details
Floor count| 15 (39 originally planned)
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Mruttu and Salman Associates
Main contractor| China Jiangxi International

Hazina Towers, also Hazina Trading Centre, is a building under construction in Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. The building was originally planned to be 39 storeys tall.[2]

## Location

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The building is located at Moktar Daddah Street in the central business district of Nairobi.[3] The coordinates of the building are:1°16'57.0"S, 36°48'56.0"E (Latitude:−1.282491; Longitude:36.815562).[4]

## Overview

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Hazina Towers is owned by National Social Security Fund (NSSF). In 1997 construction began, with the plan to lease the completed building and generate income for the pension fund. Due to financial difficulties, construction stalled at eight stories. In 2003 NSSF leased the eight-storey structure to Nakumatt, a local supermarket chain.[3]

In 2013, following protracted legal challenges, China Jiangxi International was contracted to resume construction by adding 31 new stories to the existing structure.[3][5] The total cost of the project is budgeted at KSh6.7 billion (approx. US$67.3 million). When complete, rental income is projected at about KSh100 million (approx. US$1 million) per month.[6] The Kenyan Parliament is considering leasing space in the building for its members.[7]

* Note: US$1.00 = KSh99.62, on 31 March 2016.

## New developments

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In the period between June 2013 and March 2018, the management of the NSSF Kenya decided to change the building size from 39 floors to 15. As of March 2018, construction was still progressing, although the cost of the smaller tower of 15 floors was not publicly known.[8] In December 2017, NSSF Kenya, the owners of the owners of the building, evicted Nakumatt from the development, for non-payment of rent, with arrears amounting to KSh73 million (approx. US$730,000).[9]

In January 2020, the high rise completion was valued at a total investment of KSh4,095,862,434 (approx. US$41 million), for the 15-storey structure. This compares with the projected cost of KSh6,715,218,188 (approx. US$67.3 million), for the 39-level structure originally planned. The savings amount to KSh2,619,355,754 (approx. US$26.3 million).[1]

## See also

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* List of tallest buildings in Nairobi
* Nairobi County

## References

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1. ^ a b John Mutua (January 1, 2020). "15-floor Hazina Trade Centre to cost Sh4b". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
2. ^ Ngigi, George (July 11, 2013). "NSSF's tower set for ground breaking in Nairobi". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
3. ^ a b c CRO (February 11, 2014). "Construction of Kenya's tallest skyscraper kicks off". Construction Review Online (CRO). Retrieved March 31, 2016.
4. ^ "Location of Hazina Towers, Nairobi, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
5. ^ Nation Reporter (August 23, 2015). "Nairobi County adds another twist to Hazina Towers construction". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
6. ^ Construction (February 21, 2015). "Hazina Trade Centre set to be the tallest building in Kenya". Nairobi: Kenyanews.co.ke. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
7. ^ Shiundu, Alphonce (May 24, 2012). "Governors allocated Sh800m for houses". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
8. ^ Owino, Samwel (March 16, 2018). "MPs take NSSF to task over cost of Hazina Towers project". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
9. ^ James Kariuki (December 23, 2017). "Nakumatt ejection to allow Hazina Towers' completion". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

## External links

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* Website of National Social Security Fund Kenya
* NSSF gets ultimatum on Hazina Towers construction